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Owner of grocery store in Starke arrested Thursday after reports of drug traffic at the business

Don Hapuarachchi

The owner of a grocery store in Bradford County was arrested Thursday after several reports of illegal drug traffic at the business, according to the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives moved in and closed down Edwards Grocery at 4105 Southeast Florida 100 in Starke after a drug transaction about 4:45 p.m., according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Don Hapuarachchi, 46, owns the store and was arrested Thursday on two counts of trafficking hydrocodone and two counts of possession of an illegal drug with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Over 1,000 packs of synthetic marijuana were found in the business during a search after the arrest and sources told investigators each pack was being sold for $20, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Hapuarachchi was booked into the Bradford County Jail and will appear before a judge Friday before a bail amount is set, according to the Sheriff’s Office.